house Archives - Tammie's Take~

Keeping Up With The Jones’s? Here’s How To Outdo The Jones’s!

Reviews · July 30, 2018

Neighbourhood rivalries are often very silly, and will always be mocked. Why compete when you can come together as a community? However, if everyone admitted it to themselves, they would say that they secretly practice it, in small ways. The most obvious example is Christmas. Many streets seem to wish to outdo one another in order to appear the most curated home, the most beautiful with the most gorgeous decorations. Some houses decide to go overboard, and these aren’t hard to spot.

However, is there some utility in the idea of ‘keeping up with the Joneses?’ Could it actually help you? Of course, when it’s tongue in cheek. Real life decoration battles are silly and odd to invest your time into. However, there’s no shame in wanting to live in the most beautiful house of your street. To do that, and to enable these silly but ultimately rewarding feeling, consider these tips to help your home stand out above all:

Curb Appeal

The curb appeal of your property really matters. This is the first impression that anyone walking past will see, but more importantly it’s the first impression you will see when first coming upon the house. This is why it is so essential for you to make this look the way you most desire. A great way to do this is to consider the lead up garden to your front door.

Is it well maintained? Are the bushes well trimmed and parallel with one another, or chaotic and artsy? Is your garden path well maintained or cracked and in need of repair? How does this area look at night? Dark, or with beautiful luminescent lamps slowly lighting the way? Making your home look inviting with the use of light, colour and texture can help you not only have the most beautiful and curated garden space of your street, but it will actually increase your property value to a degree you might not have imagined.

Garden Features

Back garden features can be everything to a beautiful green space. It might be that implementing plenty of new garden features could be quite pricey, such as replacing garden furniture, rectifying a shed, opting for higher quality fencing among many other considerations to make. For this reason it might be worth sustaining an operational budget, or gaining items on credit for now while in the effort to improve credit scores.

This might mean making your garden more lively by purchasing items for your children, or many other artsy features that help you get out into the green space and working with your creative ambition. A back garden is best when it’s alive and lived in during the day.

Window Arches

Windows arches say plenty about your home and how it should be viewed. Are they well maintained or is the paint chipped? Is the pain all one theme or multiple? Does the design fit with your front, back or side doors? Consider repainting, replacing or repairing window arches, as they are often the first telltale sign of a property that is less than well maintained.

With these simple tips, outdoing the Joneses will become a matter of hobby, so that you needn’t worry about the entire affair again. You’ll be too busy enjoying your beautiful home for that.

6 Investments Every Homeowner Should Save For

Reviews · February 9, 2018

When it comes to owning property, there is a lot that you need to know. The fact is that when you first purchased your home, you most probably had no idea about everything that would come with it, and something a large percentage of homeowners fail to realize is that when you purchase a property, it is wise to invest in it further. After all, most properties have the potential to grow in value, if the right investments are made that is!

However, far too many homeowners buy a property, make a few alterations, and that’s it. The issue with this is that if you don’t make a conscious effort to look after the largest investment that you have ever, or will ever make, then you are missing a trick. If you want to ensure that your home not only holds its value but also grows in value, so that you get a good return on your investment should you ever choose to sell, then you need to invest in the property.

Bearing that in mind, below is a guide to six investment ideas that every homeowner should save for, and eventually invest in.

1. Attic conversion

Regardless of whether your home is large enough for you and your family, an attic conversion is a great investment to make. The fact is that the larger you can make your home, the higher its value will be. If you have the space to increase the size of your property, and the funds to put into it, it makes sense to do so. After all, when (or if) you sell your home; naturally, you want to ensure that it goes for as high a price as possible so that you can make a great return on your investment.

Of course, the issue is that unless you make some adaptations to your home, then the chances of it selling for a significantly higher price than what you paid for it, are low. That’s why it is crucial that you take steps to invest in your home and improve the property however you can, such as by converting your unused attic space into a livable area. Regardless of the cost of conversion and the amount of time it would take to complete, it’s important to think about the amount of value it would add. This will depend on how much additional space it would provide- the more bedrooms and bathrooms it adds, the higher the value of your property will increase by.

2. Solar panel installation

Today, the world is a much more eco-friendly place. There is an increasing amount of pressure on leading ‘greener’ lives each year, which means that properties that are built to be sustainable and eco-friendly tend to be more popular and more valuable than properties that aren’t. While you can’t change how your home was built, what you can do is incorporate some environmentally friendly features into it.

There are lots of ways that you can choose to do this, but one of the best options is via solar power. The amount of energy produced by solar panels is amazing, regardless of whether your home is situated in a particularly sunny spot or not. Solar panels are an eco-friendly home adaptation that is not only sure to be successful regarding leading a ‘greener’ life but also in terms of adding more value to your home. While wind turbines and hydropower are also suitable options for providing your own clean, renewable energy, these are usually better suited to larger locations, such as farms and businesses, as they require more space to be successful. Whereas, all solar panels need is a sunny rooftop. The initial cost can be high; however, when you consider both the value added to your property and the fact that you will no longer have to pay for energy and also that you can sell any unused energy back to the grid, it is an investment that makes sense.

3. Home security

Unfortunately, the sad statistics show that home invasions and burglaries means that having a home which is safe and secure is more important than ever before. Homes that are prone to burglaries become well known in local areas, which can lead to them not selling well or for good prices when put on the market. After all, no one wants to live in a home that has a high risk of burglary, do they? Bearing that in mind, it’s clear why investing in a high-quality home security system is so vital.

In addition to investing in a wireless security alarm that connects to the police if the alarm sounds and can be monitored via your smartphone, it is also crucial to consider what other features to incorporate. Obviously, triple glazed windows are a must, and these are also more energy efficient than their alternatives so add additional value to your home, as are strong, secure locks, but what else does your home need to be secure? Security cameras are a vital tool – smart cameras are your best bet as these can be easily disguised as household objects and are much easier to monitor, thanks to the smartphone app that connects to them.

4. Insurance

It goes without saying that your home is your pride and joy, and one of the most expensive investments that you will ever make, which is why protecting it with great insurance is so important. Unfortunately, if you fail to insure your home correctly, should disaster strike, such as a fire, flood, or even a home intrusion, your home would be unprotected, which would mean you would have to cover the entire repair cost yourself. Whereas, if the building and its contents are insured, this isn’t the case – any damage will be fixed at no extra cost to you.

When it comes to your home, insurance is a must-have investment. If you don’t take steps to protect your home, should the worst happen you could be left in a somewhat sticky situation. If the cost of the repairs that need doing are too high, then you could even lose your home as a result, which is what makes investing in the correct and right insurance cover even more of a necessity.

5. Energy efficient appliances

As mentioned above, the world is becoming increasingly environment focused, which means that any property that has energy efficient appliances (built-in ones) is going to have a raised value and be more sought after. When it comes to replacing your old appliances, be smart about the replacements that you choose. If an eco-friendly alternative is available, invest in that option. Try not to worry about the price, instead, think about the energy it will save you and the potential value it could add to your home when you choose to sell in the future.

When it comes to saving energy, it’s the little things that make all the difference. The properties that tend to sell for the higher prices due to being more energy efficient are the ones that incorporate all of the most useful features. These include things like triple glazed windows, effective installation, and showers and taps that have water saving features fitted to them. Today, when purchasing a home, many buyers look for somewhere that will offer a more sustainable way of living.

6. Basement waterproofing

Due to higher property prices, most buyers are looking for properties that have as much usable space as possible. That’s why, if your home comes with additional areas, such as a basement, it’s important to ensure that they are livable spaces. It’s these additional areas of living space that make all the difference to the price of a property. So, with that in mind, if you have a basement that is not a livable space but as the potential to be, it’s worthwhile investing in it. It could mean converting the area, or it could simply mean preparing it to be lived in, such as by waterproofing the space.

If you want to make sure that your property offers as much value as possible when sold in the future, it makes sense to invest in it now. The more living space your home can offer potential buyers, the higher the value it will have, and the better return on investment you will get from it. So if you can afford to convert any unused areas of your home into livable space, it’s most definitely a worthwhile investment to make.

There you have it, a guide to the six investments that every homeowner should save for. When it comes to your home, you naturally want to make sure that it sells for a price that is as high as possible, that’s why it is worthwhile investing in it now. You may not be planning on selling up for a while yet, but even so, it is important to be mindful of the future and prepare for it sooner rather than later.

Coping When A Household Disaster Strikes

Reviews · January 15, 2018

For homeowners, there is nothing more upsetting than a household disaster striking, particularly when your home is exactly how you want it to be, and it ends up being ruined. The fact is that while you can never know if a household disaster will strike, what you can do is prepare in advance so that if it does, you are able to cope with whatever is thrown at you. Find out how to prepare for these kinds of stressful situations and make managing and coping with them that little bit easier.

Photo source

Invest in insurance

One of the most important things that you can do to prepare for a potential household disaster is invest in adequate home insurance that covers every eventuality. The fact is that after a home disaster, whether it’s a house fire, a flood, or storm damage, the cost of repairs can often be high, which is why having insurance in place to cover any damage to your home is crucial. Otherwise, should your home be damaged by a storm, for example, you may not be able to afford to have the damaged repaired.

Call in the experts

If you are going to have any damage done to your home fixed, it is always best to call in the experts. While you may think that you can deal with the damage yourself, often the work can end up being complicated and time-consuming, which is why calling in the experts is so vital. Let’s say, for example, that your home has flooded. Instead of trying to deal with the clean up yourself, calling in an expert team from a company like Restoration Eze, could be worthwhile doing. As that way, the cleanup and repair of your home will be performed to a professional standard and should be completed far more quickly than it would be if you attempted to deal with it yourself.

Be positive

One of the most important things to do when a household disaster strikes is to remain positive at all times. The fact is that it may not be easy to do, but no matter what has happened to your home, it pays to remain positive about things. The situation may seem dire right now, but in time, as the damage is repaired, your home will soon be back to normal. It might be difficult to remain positive about the situation that you are in, but it is important to remember that things will get better.

No one likes to imagine that a household disaster will strike their home, but the fact is that you cannot always control what happens. A fire could break out and burn down your kitchen, a river could burst its banks and flood your home, or a storm could take out your roof. The fact is that you never know what’s around the corner or the impact that it will have, which is why knowing how to cope should the worst happen is so vital. To ensure that you are prepared for anything, take note of the tips and advice above.

Pocket-Friendly Tips For an Amazing Mahabaleshwar Trip

Reviews · November 27, 2017

If you need a break from the city and its daily trials but want to do so without taxing your wallet, then we have the perfect guide for you. Head over to Mahabaleshwar with its lush green cover, dipping valleys and vast farms of strawberries. The hill station is situated in Maharashtra and forms part of the Sahyadri range in the Western Ghats. Perfect for nature-lovers, solitude-seekers and family vacations, the town is the perfect place to feel rejuvenated and relax. With its lakes and vantage points offering spectacular views, the town will leave you spellbound. We have a list of Budget hotels booking in Mahabaleshwar to help you manage your stay within the budget.

Mulberry Inn

Probably the highest selling point of this hotel is the fact that it has its own strawberry garden right in its backyard. It is located close to the popular tourist destinations of the and the Lingmala waterfall and offers clean, spacious rooms. The tariff starts at a modest INR 1000 which is a steal considering the facilities that they provide. With an in-house restaurant serving delicious treats, you will feel rightly pampered at your vacation.

Address: Near Metgutad Post Office, Panchgani Mahabaleshwar Road

Contact: 091583 83355

Hilltop House

All the rooms in this government approved establishment offers a fantastic view of the valley in addition to being cosy and homely. They also provide the open terrace for private parties and have an in-house restaurant that whips up delicious treats. A room at the Hilltop House will set you back by INR 1,100 for one night which is unbelievable for the kind of services they provide. You can even stroll through their very own strawberry farm for a magical experience.

Address: Mahabaleshwar Road, Near Mapro Garden, Bondarwadi Village

Contact: 094057 46699

Sai Signature Cottage

Situated away from the hustle-bustle of the main town and the busy marketplaces, Sai Signature Cottages are a paradise for people in search of solitude. The rooms offer a magnificent view of the valley and are surely something to wake up to. The rooms are comfortable, and the staff is extremely hospitable. The tariff for the rooms start at an economical INR 1,200 and are value for money. Head to this place to truly experience the serenity of the beautiful hill station.

Address: Sai Signature Cottage, Sai Cottage, Main Road, Medha Satara Road.

Contact: 022 4089 4091

Meera Vatika

The Meera Vatika is located in a quiet, peaceful neighbourhood that will give you a chance to experience nature in its purest form. With rooms equipped with all the basic amenities and facilities, the hotel is perfect for families, backpackers and solo travellers. The cost of one room is INR 1,400 and is a bargain for this kind of establishment. They also provide a tour desk that will take care of your local needs also facilities to store luggage.

Address: Near Venna Lake, Panchgani Mahabaleshwar Road.

Contact: 09819738309

Hotel Blue Heaven

With rooms available at just INR 700, this is the absolute gem of a place for budget travellers. Each room is equipped with the basic facilities and has been aesthetically designed to be warm and welcoming. It is situated very close to the picturesque Venna Lake and the main market. It is ideal for big families as well as for backpackers looking for a comfortable place to stay during the course of their journey. The hotel also takes care any local sightseeing requirements with their well-informed travel desk.

Address: Masjid Road, Near Petrol Pump.

With budget being no excuse for these affordable Budget hotels booking in Mahabaleshwar, make sure you plan a trip to this beautiful town for a truly relaxing trip. The place is perfect to reconnect with nature either with your friends, family or even by yourself.